BUDGET: recreation facilities see fractional proposed increases

The City says, like property taxes, they limited increases to fees and charges, keeping many at zero over the past two years.

RECREATION

Admission prices may see an increase of seven per cent while rentals may see four per cent starting September 2023, except for the G.H. Dawe Centre.

Admission increases to the Collicutt and Recreation Centres are less than $1 in the proposed budgets. In 2022, an adult daily admission for the Collicutt Centre was $9.25, while multi-purpose facility admissions in Sylvan Lake were $6.25, $9 in Blackfalds, $11 in Grande Prairie and $16 in Airdrie. The adult rate is proposed to increase by $0.90. A monthly ALL Access Adult pass was $46.40 per month for recreation facilities and $27 per month for swimming only at the Recreation/Michener Centre.

Rental prices per hour at pools and arenas may see an increase from $7-15 over the next two years. Youth rental prices are 60 per cent of the adult rate through a subsidy by the City. An hour of youth ice is currently $114 in Red Deer, in comparison to $84 in Innisfail, $150 in Leduc, $145 in Spruce Grove and $175 in Penhold.

Councillor Cindy Jefferies questioned about aid for struggling families. The City says services are available such as free borrowing passes at schools and fee assistance programs, including Jumpstart by Canadian Tire.

TRANSIT

The City says the public transit fares are below average for a city of over 100,000 people. Prices are proposed to increase from $0.25 for a youth ticket to $5.50 for a 12-ride youth/senior/student pass.

PROTECTIVE SERVICES

The City says the fees charged in Red Deer do not cover the costs incurred for services provided by Municipal Policing.

Starting Jan. 1, 2023, Criminal Record checks may see increases ranging from $5-20. Name change requests may increase by $45.

CEMETERY

With 77 fees under this category, the City says they are adjusting to meet the prices of comparable municipalities.

Beginning in April 2023 and phased over three years, traditional burials may increase by $690, columbarium burials by $767 and cremation burials by $569.

UTILITIES

For a typical home assessed at $345,000, an approximate increase of four per cent would be seen on monthly utility bills. Based on an average water consumption of 17 cubic metres, an increase of $170.20 for 2023 can be seen, adding to a monthly increase of $6.29. In 2024, this would be an increase of $176.64 or $6.44 monthly.

In a breakdown, electricity rates would increase by $1.61 per month, water and wastewater would increase by $3.98, and waste management rates would increase by three per cent.

A new paper utility bill is proposed for September 2023 to promote environmentally friendly electronic billing. The City is proposing a fee of $1.30 per paper bill, covering the direct costs of printing and mailing, which they say have seen a 150 per cent increase over the last two years.

DEVELOPMENT STARTING JAN. 1, 2023

City planning and growth fees like Municipal Development Plan and Land Use Bylaw amendment applications may see increases ranging from $30 for an endorsement to $1,050 for a major Neighbourhood Area Structure Plan amendment.

Business, dog and animal bylaw licenses and all permits may also see fractional increases to match the consumer price index.

REVENUE AND ASSESSMENT FEES

Starting April 2023, these fees are related to individual specific assessments and taxation services. They include tax certificates, tax recovery notifications, property tax information to lending institutions, payments errors, account documents and assessment information.

Not having increased since 2016 and to align with other municipalities, each is proposed to increase from $5-20.

by Alessia Proietti

BUDGET: recreation facilities see fractional proposed increases

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